Temporary antenna support



July 4, 1961 J. w. OVERTON TEMPORARY ANTENNA SUPPORT Filed Nov. 18. 1957 John W Over/0n INVENTOR.

BY WWW United States This invention relates generally to supports, and more specifically to an antenna support of the temporary type.

In the television repair field, when it becomes necessary to replace or repair a rotating device for television antennas, it is necessary for at least two men to remove the rotating device, and it is a long and tedious operation. Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to provide a temporary antenna support, which may be used to hold a television antenna in place, when a rotating device is to be removed or repaired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a temporary antenna support which, when used, will allow one man to remove the rotating device very quickly, so that it is not necessary for a few men to work for long periods of time at unsafe heights in order to remove the rotating device.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly successful for the purpose for which it is designed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the temporary antenna support, illustrating its use in the removal of a television antenna rotating device;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 22 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the details of construction of the lower clamp;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 3--3 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the details of construction of the upper clamp; and

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, illustrating further details of construction of the upper clamp.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the generally U-shaped bracket which is a part of the present invention. An upper clamp unit 12 and a lower clamp unit 14 are connected to the respective legs of the U-shaped bracket 10. U-shaped bracket comprises a bight portion 16, of channel-like construction, a lower leg 18, having a vertical portion 20 depending therefrom, and an upper leg 22. The upper leg 22 has a slot 24 formed therein. A channel section 26 is telescoped into leg 22, and has a slot (not shown) in longitudinal alignment with slot 24 in leg 22. Bolts 28 are secured in the aligned slots, and are used to adjust the effective length of leg 22 and telescoping section 26, which together may be considered the adjustable upper leg of U-shaped bracket 10.

Attached to depending member 20, is lower clamp unit 14 which consists of two horizontal, parallel, and spaced apart channel members 30, which are attached to member 20, as by welding or any other suitable means. These channel members 30 have a notched out portion 32 for the reception of vertical shaft 34. Outstanding bolts 36 are fixed in outwardly projecting relation from either end of the bight portion of each channel member 30, and these bolts have threaded end portions. A generally Patented July 4., 1961 2. V-shaped element 38, having flanges on the endsthereof with holes therein for the reception of bolts 36, clamps vertical shaft 34 into place, and holds it therein, by means of nuts 40 which are tightened up on bolts 36.

A vertical channel member 42 is attached to telescoping member 26. A generally V-shaped clamp holder '44 is held to channel member 42 by means of bolts 46 which pass through aligned openings in channel member 42 and clamp holder 44. Clamp holder 44 is held tightly to channel member 42 because of a nut 48 which is fixed to 7 bolt 46 and tightened thereon. Horizontal channel members 50, similar to channel members 30, are fixed to clamp holder 44, by means of threaded bolts 52 which pass through aligned openings in clamp holder 44 and channel member 50. Nuts 54 secure the last two mentioned members in place. A notch 56 is formed in channel member 50, similar to notch 32 and channel member 30, and for a similar purpose. However, this notch is used to receive antenna rod 58 therein. Clamping elements 60 similar to clamping elements 38, are fitted onto the bolts 52 and secured therein by nuts 62. It is to be noted that the vertical angular relation between the bight portion of channel member 42 and the bight portion of clamp holder 44, may be adjusted, by means of bolts 64 which are threaded into openings 66 in the bight portion of channel member 42, and which abut against the outer bight portion of clamp holder 44. Looking nuts 68 are fixed to the outer bight portion of channel member '42, so that the nuts 68 may be held securely therein. Thus by tightening on bolt 64, either the upper or the lower, and correspondingly adjusting nuts 48 on bolts 46, the angular relation of clamp holder 44 with respect to channel member 42 may be adjusted.

Looking now at FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seen that an antenna rotator 70 has antenna rod 58 passing therethrough, so as to rotate same when activated. This rotator is held by support rod 34, by means of a clamp 72. Now, when it becomes necessary to remove the rotator for replacement or repair, in previous practice it has been necessary to completely remove the antenna in order to remove the rotator 70. However, if clamping unit 14 is loosely fixed to support rod 34, and clamping unit 12 fixed tightly to antenna rod 58, the upper leg of the bracket 10 is then adjusted to the proper length by means of telescopic section 26, and then when clamp 72 is loosened the bracket 10 and rotator 70 may be moved upwardly so that antenna rod 58 is moved upwardly and clamp 'unit 14 slides up on support rod 34, thus allowing clamp 72 to slide off the top of rod 34. Then, clamp unit 14 may be fixed to rod 34, and the rotator 70 removed. Of course, to replace the rotator 70 the procedure would be reversed.

It will thus be seen that I have invented, and herein shown and described a new and improved type of device which may be used as a temporary antenna support in removing antenna rotators.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and chances will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tool adapted to be removably secured between upper and lower sections of an antenna mast interconnected by means of motor means adapted to support and rotate the upper mast section relative to the lower mast section, said tool comprising a generally U-shaped member adapted to be secured between said mast sections having upper and lower legs connected at one end by a hight portion, said legs on their free ends each having means adapted for removable rigid. securement to a section of a d m t w er by h m tor m n ay be r ov d while said tool maintains said sections intheir respective positions, one of said legs including an adjustable extensible portion thereby. enabling the securing means carn'ed by said one leg to be adjusted in position toward andaway from said bight portion, and one of said removable securing means including means for rotating the mast sec tion engaged therewith about an axis extending transversely of the leg by which one securing means is carried. 2, The combination of claim 1 wherein said securing means each comprises a clamp plate secured to the free end of a corresponding leg adapted to be removably se- 15 3 09 4 cured to one of said mast sections and having mast engaging surfacesadapted to be complementary to the crosssectional shape of said mastsections.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said legs and said bight portion are integrally formed.

References in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 85,372 Elliott Dec. 29, 1868 432,829 Hirst, July 22, 1890 1,084,130 Cargin Jan. 13, 1914 1,306,858 Salter June 17, 1919 1,323,127 Treuthardt Nov. 25, 1919 Wampler June 29, 1954 

